Students from KIPP ZENITH Academy perform during the Official Kickoff of National School Choice Week. ( Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle )

Students from KIPP ZENITH Academy perform during the Official Kickoff of National School Choice Week. ( Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle )

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

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The crowd cheers a during a speech by US Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee at the Official Kickoff of National School Choice Week. ( Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle )

The crowd cheers a during a speech by US Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee at the Official Kickoff of National School Choice Week. ( Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle )

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

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US Sen. Ted Cruz addressed the crowd during the Official Kickoff of National School Choice Week. ( Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle )

US Sen. Ted Cruz addressed the crowd during the Official Kickoff of National School Choice Week. ( Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle )

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

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KIPP Co-Founder Mike Feinberg, facing, hugs Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory School of Houston Founder and President Father T.J. Martinez during the Official Kickoff of National School Choice Week. ( Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle ) less

KIPP Co-Founder Mike Feinberg, facing, hugs Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory School of Houston Founder and President Father T.J. Martinez during the Official Kickoff of National School Choice Week. ( ... more

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

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Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory School of Houston Founder and President Father T.J. Martinez speaks during the Official Kickoff of National School Choice Week. ( Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle )

Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory School of Houston Founder and President Father T.J. Martinez speaks during the Official Kickoff of National School Choice Week. ( Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle )

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

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US Sen. Ted Cruz greets US Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee after both spoke at the Official Kickoff of National School Choice Week. ( Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle )

US Sen. Ted Cruz greets US Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee after both spoke at the Official Kickoff of National School Choice Week. ( Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle )

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

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US Sen. Ted Cruz greets students after the Official Kickoff of National School Choice Week. ( Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle )

US Sen. Ted Cruz greets students after the Official Kickoff of National School Choice Week. ( Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle )

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

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Trash and signs are left behind after the Official Kickoff of National School Choice Week. ( Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle )

Trash and signs are left behind after the Official Kickoff of National School Choice Week. ( Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle )

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

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Thousands rally for school choice in Houston

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Party lines intersected at Minute Maid Park Saturday as two top Texas politicians came together to promote school choice.

"We've got people from the entire political spectrum here," KIPP charter school co-founder Mike Feinberg told the cheering crowd. "Last time I checked there were no Republican children or Democratic children, just children who want a great education."

The politicians were joined by hundreds of families and educators from across the area who gathered to support access to high-quality private and public schools, including charter, magnet and online programs.

Houston - the birthplace of the KIPP and YES Prep charter school systems - has long been a hub of school choice.

"You talk about choice, we are choice," said Houston Independent School District Superintendent Terry Grier, who touted his school system's extensive charter and magnet program that allows families to apply to specialty schools across the city.